09/23/2025
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is telling fuel marketers who applied for fuel through its online portal that they must either top up their payments to reflect current prices or risk losing their allocations. According to the NNPC spokesperson, Andy Odeh, this is a necessary step to maintain contractual obligations following price adjustments. Marketers who cannot afford the new rates can request a refund, and some requests are already being processed.
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is urging the NNPC to resolve a significant backlog of loading tickets. IPMAN’s Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, said that despite having paid, many members have been unable to lift products, a problem that is compounded by recent price increases.
Another point of contention is the unresolved debt from the now-dissolved Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), which marketers claim still owes them about ₦25 billion. The NNPC, however, has clarified that the responsibility for managing and disbursing these funds falls under the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, not the NNPC itself.
The ongoing disputes over ticket delays, price increases, and old debts are causing major challenges for marketers, who warn that these issues could lead to fuel scarcity if not addressed quickly.